CABLE NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 December 1921, Page 3

CABLE NEWS.

THE IRISH-PROBLEM. ITJSTRAI/lAN and N.z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. DAIL EIREANN. LONDON, Dec. HiIt is stated that opinion inside the Bail Eireann fluctuates hourly according to the different speeches. It is impossible to predict the rcof its deliberations «'> th Lo,,h dence. IN THE COMMONS. LONDON, Dec 16. In the House of Commons, Mr Bonar fie j‘ .. from the dramatic intervention .I, s . , r^4 U «i , ‘Mr’S^wn” decidedly restive, as tlie recalled that SSKU traitors, » S twentieths of their countrymen tveie determined to carry through. Mr Winston Churchill said lie haa no doubt regarding Britain s pone crush any Irish resistance, and he believed that the country would be willing to adopt such a policy, if no other course was open. That, however, was a question which had; been solv ed, and a oompletelv new situation had been created. Ample conditions for paitneiship had been offered to Ulster, whose interests were safeguarded. The queswas whether the difficulties "till outstanding were sufficient to make it perative to renew the fighting, world would not tolerate such a polio. TIL time, he said, to stop these fanatical troubles. Mr Bonar Law, rising, in n bac bench, spoke for neary an io • ■ voice .faltered in the middle, but his in tellect was as keen as ever. Theresas silenc© during his opening P * • for Carson. For a- while the House was doubtful how he was going to vote but it broke into loud cheer* .when he said he was in favour of this agice-

m< Mr Bonar Law continued: of Ulster being coerced is not justified. It seems to me now to be impossible for the Government to present anr "< other policy, if Southern Ireland ,s to given Dominion home rule and U ster kept within the Lmp.re AJnttm •feelinc was growing up in 041 the ground that she considered betrayed That was most disastious. srrtiua*. i;u. t S new Parliament would not escaiie from payment of the debt. The Irish Lover, ment would be young and inexperienced and such people, with power to ereato a new heaven on earth, would be like I,\ to indulge in attempts which would not lower taxation. Mr Bonar Law said lie personally believed taxation ui Southern Ireland, would be higher, not lower than in the United Kingdom. Bethought it a great mistake that, Ulstei was not consulted before the fioveintfent signed the agreement regarding Jclster boundaries, but he also thought would make a. real mistake it she refused on that aoeount, as, if the terms of the agreement were earned out ,there would bo a real adjustment of the boundaries. The Government had no right to ask Ulster for an immediate decision, hut lie would be much surprised if Sir Jas Craig and his friends did not agree to ratification, after a time. By this agreement Ulster had the right to shape her own destinies. He did not pretend to like the agreement, but it was worth taking to the relations with Ireland on a different footing. ASQUITH’S VIEWS. LONDON, Dec. 15. In the House of Commons, Rt Hon H. Asquith said lie heartily commended the compact, which would give Ireland the fullest measure of local autonomy, and give to Irishmen also a full share of free citizenship, which throughout the Empire was the essence of Dominion self-government. He wished tiiis great act of national reconciliation could be carried without a dissenting voice. Unhappily tlieic ".isj not complete unanimity, but there was j as near an approach to unity over a | long hitter subject as be bad ever wit- 1 uessed. j ASQUITH’S SPEECH. | LONDON. Dec 16. In bis speech on the Irish terms, in the House, Air Asquith remarked that Air Lloyd George appeared to be un- / " der an impression that he (Air As- \ unit) contemplated the creating by the Irish State of an arniy*and a. navy of its own, which, might be a potential menace to the security of Britain or the Empire. Intervening, Mr l.loyd George explained that what he said was that Air Asquith bad proposed that Ireland should have the same free and unfetteled right to raise an army and a navy as the Dominions enjoyed. Mr Lloyd George declared lie was opposed to Ireland'having that right. Mr Asquith, continuing said: It anything in the nature of Dominion Self Government were to be given to Ireland or to any other part of the Empire it must be on the same footing. -No part of Air Lloyd George’s speech he -V said had carried less conviction than the V — assertion he made that not only had bis Government done the right thing, but had “waited for the right moment. ’ (Opposition cheers). •DIE-HARD” AMENDMENT. LONDON, Dec. 16.

In the House of Commons, Colonel Gretton moved his amendment against th e Irish Treaty. The amendment expressed regret at the granting of any f power to Ireland for the establishment of an independent army or navy ; also referring to violated pledges given to Ulster. The mover eritieised the oath ot allegiance as being peculiar and destructive. BELFAST OUTRAGES. LONDON Dee 10. The shooting and bombing in Belfast have been resumed. A man was shot seated at the fireside in his house and another man in the street. Two houses were bombed, no casualties rcsultmg.